Hurricane Season Public Forum

Hurricane Forum: Size of storm is just as important as category

Published: 15 May 2013

When preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm, the size of the storm may be just as important as the category, officials from the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told about 100 people at the Hurricane Preparedness Forum Monday in Morgan City. Roger Erickson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, said people get fixated on the strength of storm but the size of the storm matters just as much especially in terms of local impact, he said. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, RLafayette, along with the Port of Morgan City hosted the forum. Boustany said he holds forums annually in Lafayette and Lake Charles, but added the Morgan City forum because his 3rd Congressional District includes the city. Tim Osborn of NOAA said there are countless instances where storm category and storm surge do not match up. Storm surge builds on ocean tides, Osborn said. Hurricane Sandy showed how the East and Gulf coasts should work together in storm preparedness.

2013 Legislative Visit

BSEE Visits Port

Published: 25 February 2013

James Watson, Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), recently visited oil and gas-related industry within the Port of Morgan City District. Director Watson was sworn in as Director of BSEE on December 1, 2011. He is responsible for promoting safety, protecting the environment and conserving resources through the vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement of offshore operations on the U. S. Outer Continental Shelf.